Era Of Megafires Film Screening at CMU

Era Of Megafires Film Screening at CMU

Colorado Mesa University’s Department of Physical and Environmental Science will be holding a public film screening and panel discussion in conjunction with Grand Junction Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management, Clifton Fire Department, and Rivers Edge West. This is a free event and community members and media are encouraged to join the discussion on Monday, October 15 at 4:00-5:30 PM in the University Center South Ballroom on the second floor.

The Era of Megafires explains how current fire conditions were inadvertently created and identifies strategies to reduce the future dramatic and devastating impacts from megafires. The film features Dr. Paul Hessburg of the US Forest Service. The partners have organized a discussion following the film to inform people in the west about risks that wildfires pose to communities.

“The number of large, severe wildfires has been increasing in the last decade. A future without wildfire isn’t an option, the good news is that we have tools that give us choices about how to better co-exist with fire and smoke,” said Hessburg.

Professor of Environmental Science, Tamera Minnick, PhD, coordinates the lecture series and believes partnerships are critical to finding solutions to natural resource challenges in the west. “The panel and screening will demonstrate how science can inform community management and planning around wildfires,” said Minnick.

“The increased fire activity the west is seeing is something we all have to adapt to.” Ellis Thompson-Ellis with Grand Junction Fire says, “This is a great opportunity for local organizations and citizens to come together and begin to understand our risks and what we can do to better prepare our community.”

CMU parking information is available at https://www.coloradomesa.edu/parking/visitor.html